Desiree Alvarez, 15, of Manhattan, New York, says she likes the time away from city life that the visit to Schuylkill County provides.
"It gives me a chance to get away from the fast life," she said Monday. "In the city it's like you have to go, go, go."
Alvarez is one of 10 children who will visit the county this summer as part of the Fresh Air Fund.
Established in 1877, the Fresh Air Fund is a not-for-profit organization that provides an opportunity to children ages 6 to 18 from low-income communities in New York City to experience life outside the city. More than 1.8 million children have visited areas outside the city, according to the website, www.freshair.org.
Ethel Kane, fund representative for Schuylkill, Berks and Lebanon counties, said the children who come to the county seem to enjoy it.
In prior years, children who visited the county visited Herring's Green Grass Farm, Auburn, golfed at Heisler's Cloverleaf Dairy in Walker Township and other places.
This year, the children are going to Lake Wynonah, Pine Grove, Orwigsburg, McAdoo and Port Carbon.
The children will arrive 2 p.m. July 8 at Wendy's in Hamburg and will return to the city July 15. Of the 23, children arriving July 8, seven will visit Schuylkill County; the remainder will visit Berks and Lebanon counties.
Children will also visit the county July 16, July 26 and Aug. 1.
Christopher Durand, 10, and Dakota George, 7, both of Brooklyn, will stay with Aaron and Krista Clauser, Schuylkill Haven area. This is the first time Dakota will visit, Kane said.
Krista Clauser said Christopher enjoys visiting Schuylkill County.
"This is his fourth year," she said, adding that this year, they may go miniature golfing and to a demolition derby in Shartlesville.
They called the Fresh Air Fund this year to share the positive experiences they had with Durand on his previous visits.
"We love having Christopher come. His visits are worth every minute," Aaron Clauser told the fund.
Durand and the Clausers visited Herring's Green Grass Farm and went kayaking while in the county last time.
Host families are still needed for children who perhaps want to see the county later this summer.
"We need help. We need help," Kane said.
If you are interested in being a host family, call Kane at 570-366-3982 or the Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003.
"Welcoming a child into your home for a summer visit is worthy it for the whole family. They benefit as much, if not more, than the city child," Aaron Clauser said.